Iola Fire Department

Iola Fire/EMS traces its roots to the late 1800s and describes itself as historically one of the first career fire departments in Kansas. Today it is the second-largest fire department by manpower in Southeast Kansas and the only regional agency providing fire, rescue, hazmat, and ambulance service as a combined operation.

The department is staffed by 28 full-time firefighters and officers, all licensed at the EMT, Advanced EMT, or Paramedic level. Crews work three shifts on 24-hour rotations out of two stations in Iola, with additional ambulance bases in Moran and Humboldt.

Coverage spans Iola, Gas, the surrounding rural communities, and all of Allen County, including countywide hazmat response and advanced life support. Many members live in the areas they serve and hold off-duty jobs as farmers, teachers, mechanics, and youth coaches.

The department runs more than 300 fire, rescue, and hazmat calls plus over 2,200 EMS calls each year, averaging about seven responses a day, with a fleet of 18 units ranging from engines and a ladder truck to ambulances, a rescue truck, a hazmat unit, and water-rescue craft.

Iola Fire/EMS hires full-time firefighters who carry current EMT, Advanced EMT, or Paramedic certification, reflecting the department's combined fire and ambulance role. Openings are posted on the City of Iola jobs page, and applicants apply by emailing a resume and application to the HR director.

Prospective candidates can also use the city's Notify Me alerts to be notified when future firefighter positions open.